Dinner and Nighttime Snacks That Can Cause Wet Nights

If you have a child who wets the bed, you’ve probably heard lots of rumors about nutritional bed-wetting solutions. Limit liquids after 6 p.m. Avoid orange juice. Steer clear of spicy food.

In an effort to put an end to your child’s bed-wetting problem, you might be tempted to try them all. But before you do, keep in mind that making unnecessary dietary changes that don’t work in an attempt to stop bed-wetting could make you and your child even more unhappy and upset.

Doctors are very cautious when it comes to blaming specific foods for bed-wetting, also called nocturnal enuresis, because there’s very little evidence to back up the claims, and much of it is anecdotal.

Here, WebMD investigates the myths and realities behind five food strategies to help control bed-wetting in children.

Spicy Foods and Bed-Wetting: Myth

Has taco night become a thing of the past at your house since you heard that spicy foods might trigger bed-wetting? If so, it’s time to break out the salsa and grab some guacamole -- experts say there is no evidence spicy foods trigger nocturnal enuresis.

The myth stems from the fact that spicy foods are known to irritate the bladder in some people, and doctors may recommend that people with urinary incontinence avoid them. But research hasn’t found a connection between the consumption of spicy foods and bed-wetting.

Citrus and Bed-Wetting: Another Myth

Like spicy foods, citrus fruits -- think oranges, lemons, and limes -- can be bladder irritants, owing to their acidity. So you might think you’re doing your child a favor by taking orange juice and lemonade off the table.

But medical research has not demonstrated a link between eating citrus fruits and children’s bed-wetting, except possibly in rare instances of food allergy to citrus in some bed wetters.

Food Allergens and Bed-Wetting: The Jury’s Still Out

The evidence for a connection between food allergies and bed-wetting is very weak. A single study of 21 children published in 1992 did support a connection at least in some children. But it’s likely that in the vast majority of children, allergy doesn’t play any role.